Printing press inking mechanism



June 7, 1938.

J. E. LEE ET AL PRINTING PRESS INKING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 Filed Dec. 28;. 1936 .11 .2. 34 8 \hvefi'ovs Y amifdgaw Lae;

June 7, 1938. J. E. LEI; ET AL 2,119,747

, PRINTING P RESS INKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l -4a a? I Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,119,747 I PRINTING PRESS INKING MECHANISM James Edgar Lee and Freeman Barney, Grand Haven, Mich., assignors to The Challenge Ma- -chinery Company, Grand Haven, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 28,1936, Serial No. 117,910

10 Claims. (Cl. 101358) This invention relates to a printing press inking mechanism. In printing presses used for proof printing, a bed on which the type is carried is moved underneath a pressure cylinder, the rotation of the cylinder and the movement of the bed taking place simultaneously. Paper is fed over the cylinder so as to be pressed against the type which must have been previously inked in order that the printing may appear upon the paper on the side thereof presented to the type.

In our invention we have provided a mechanism which is permanently installed upon the printing press and with which the type may be inked on rotation of the cylinder, and simulta neous movement of the bed underneath the cylinder during the printing operation. The mechanism which we have provided is manually operable so that it may be raised and applied with ink and the press operated through one or more cycles whereby the ink is distributed evenly on all the rolls of the inking mechanism. The mechanism may then be lowered and the printing started during which the ink will be applied evenly to the type.

Means are also provided whereby when the inking rollers are raised from contact with the type the inking rollers and the intermediate spreading rollers are simultaneously separated from each other. This separation of the rollers is desirable when the press is to be out of use for some time. The inking rollers being made of soft composition having a tendency to become distorted under continued pressure, therefore it is desirable to separate them during the period of non-use. This separation of the rollers also facilitates the cleaning of the rollers after use of the press.

Our invention consists of many novel structural combinations, associations and arrangements of parts for effectively inking the type in a very practical and efiicient manner, and for moving the inking mechanism to an inoperative position.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a printing press showing the inking mechanism installed thereon and in the position which it occupies during the printing operation.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the inking mechanism moved to an inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation and transverse section, the section being taken in front ofthe inking mechanism.

and extends between the brackets.

front of the housingsupports l4 andare each Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal plan and partial section substantially on the planeof line 3-4 of Fig. 1, and.

Fig.5 is a fragmentary elevation of a detail of the mechanism at the side of the machine opposite that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The type assembly or composition I (Fig. 3) held within a suitable chase 2 is located upon and properly secured to the upper side of a movable bed 3.

The bed 3 at each longitudinal side edge and at its underside has downwardly extending tracks 4 riding upon antifriction bearings in the form of roller chains 5 which in turn ride upon tracks 6 underneath the same and made at the upper edges of spaced apart sides 1 of a supporting under structure or frame of the machine. A

longitudinal bar 8 is bolted or otherwise fixed to The detail of the manner in which the journals l3 are slidably mounted on the housing I4 and may be adjusted .to proper position and otherwise moved asthe operation of the printing press may require, form no part of'the present invention but are disclosed ina copending application,

Serial No. 107,660, filed Oct. 26,. 1936.

At what may be termed the front of the print- :ing cylinder and its mounting, brackets l5 are fixed at the upper front corners of the supporting housings M. A rock shaft 5 is mounted on Adjacent each end of the rock shaft a bell crank lever is permanently secured, including a downwardly which a link I9 is pivotally connected and depends therefrom, terminating at its lower end in a hook 2!. At the lower .endportion and rear .side of each arm'll a concave recess 20, substan-,

tially semi-circular in form, is made (see Fig. 1).

At the inner side of each of the bell crank levers described, a supporting bracket 22 is located and is loose upon the rock shaftlfi. supporting brackets 22 extend downwardly 111' Said til

provided with a forwardly extending arm 23 below which the bracket is continued in a section 24, terminating at its lower end in a forwardly extending substantially horizontal member 25, included in which are two spaced apart sleeves 26. In each sleeve a vertical post 21 is mounted for vertical adjustment by means of suitable adjusting screws and hand wheels 28 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Bars 29 having integral bearing blocks 30 at their upper sides are adjustably mounted on the posts by a pin and slot connection shown at 3|, whereby the bearing blocks 30 may be adjusted horizontally toward or away from each other. The bearing blocks 30 serve as bearings for the ends 32 of shafts on which inking rollers 33 are carried. The inking rollers extend .across and above the table 3 and the type I carried thereby. In the position shown in Fig. 1 they ride upon the upper type surfaces of the type I and transmit ink thereto as the type is moved longitudinally with the bed 3underneath the cylinder The forward free end of each arm 23 has a journal 34 slidably mounted therein to the upper side of which a hook 35, complementary to the hook 2|, is connected. A covering shroud 36 is also integral with or otherwise suitably connected with each journal block 34 and has oppositely extending arms 31 at its inner end in which the reduced diameter ends 38 of small rollers 39 are mounted being located directly over the immediate inking rollers 33. A shaft 40 is rotatably mounted in. the journal blocks 34 on which a spreading roller 4| is carried. This shaft has both a reciprocating longitudinal movement and a rotary movement. The mechanism for giving longitudinal movement to the shaft and the roller thereon is not described as the same is not new. The journal blocks 34 which carry the shaft 4!] may be lifted in suitable guide slots in the arm 23 through the connection of the hooks at 2| to the hooks at and on rocking movement of the rock shaft H5 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby lifting not only the spreading roller 4| but also the rollers 39, the covering shroud 36 and arms 31.

A gear 42 having a relatively wide face to permit the longitudinal reciprocation described is fixed on shaft 49. It is in mesh with an idler pinion 43 mounted at the inner side of the one of the brackets 22. Pinion 43 is in engagement with the idler gear 44 similarly mounted and carried. The gear 44 is adapted to engage and mesh with the gear Ill at the end of the cylinder II. From this construction it is evident that when the cylinder II and attached gear ID are manually rotated by turning the shaft l2 in a clockwise direction the spreading roller 4| is actuated. Such roller lies between and above the inking rollers 33 and is designed to have contacting engagement with both, the adjustment of the inking rollers 33 toward or away from each other providing such ability of simultaneous contact. The rotation of the gear l0 drives (and also reciprocates) the spreading roller so as to evenly and smoothly spread any ink applied to such spreading roller over the immediate inking rollers 33. The inking rollers 33 in turn apply ink to the upper faces of the type presented to such rollers. The gearing, including the gears 42, 43 and 44, furnish the intermediate drive means between the spreading roller 4| and the gear ID.

A rock shaft 45 is mounted at its ends upon and extends between the two supporting brackets 22 and at one end is provided with a manually operable crank or lever 46 to rock the same. On the lever two rollers 41 are mounted short distances from the shaft 45, one above and the other below the shaft. At the opposite end of the rock shaft 45 (in Fig. 5) a collar 48 is secured which likewise carries similar rollers 41a similarly positioned. Rocking the shaft, for instance in a counterclockwise direction, brings the upper rollers 41 and 41a against the front sides of the housing supports M (Fig. 1) and the lower rollers 41, 41a enter the concaved recess 20 in the arms thereby rocking the shaft |6 counterclockwise and swinging the inking mechanism from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. If the hooks at 2| are engaged with the hooks 35 the spreading roller 4| and associated parts are elevated above the inking rollers 33 as in Fig. 2. However, the hooks 2| may be disengaged from the hooks 35, in which case the spreading roller 4| and the parts associated therewith will remain in the same relative position with respect to the inking rollers 33.

With this construction, when the press is to be out of use for some time the crank 46 is turned as described to swing the inking mechanism to the inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the spreading rollers 39 and 4| are separated from the inking rollers 33 and to assume this position the hooks 2| are in engagement with the hooks 35.

Before a printing job is done the inking rollers 33 are in raised position with the hooks 2| disengaged from the hooks 35 leaving the spreading rollers 39 and 4| in contact with the inking rollers. The spreading rollers are smeared with the proper amount of ink and then the cylinder is rotated, moving the bed thereunder and rotating the spreading rollers which spread the ink onto the inking rollers. During this movement the inking rollers 33 are raised so that they do not contact the type as it passes thereunder. The cylinder is rotated back and forth until the ink is spread sufliciently.

The inking rollers are then lowered ready for a printing job.

With the inking rollers raised from the plane of the face of the type and the spreading rollers raised relative to the inking rollers the cleaning of the rollers after a printing job is made easier for the rollers are out of contact with each other.

The construction described is of a very practical, durable and useful character and has proved its value in service. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a printing press, a horizontal support, a bed mounted for back and forth longitudinal movement over the support, vertical supporting members, one at each side of the horizontal support connected thereto at their lower ends and extending above the bed, a horizontal cylinder rotatably mounted on and carried between said supporting members, a gear on one end of the cylinder, a rack at one side of the bed in mesh with the gear, brackets connected to said members, a rock shaft extending between the brackets, an inking mechanism suspended from said rock shaft including two spaced inking rollers and a spreading roller above and between the inking rollers adapted to frictionally engage therewith, gearing between the spreading roller and the gear on the cylinder, and a pivotally mounted manually operable lever carried by the inking mechanism and having means adapted when the lever is turned in one direction to engage against a supporting member and swing the inking mechanism in an upward direction about the axis of said rock shaft.

2. An inking mechanism for printing presses including fixed supporting brackets adapted to be attached to the frame of the printing press, a rock shaft extending between said brackets, other brackets suspended from said rock shaft, inking rollers carried by and between said other brackets, a spreading roller located above the inking rollers and between the same, a bell crank lever connected with the rock shaft, means for detachably connecting one arm of the bell crank lever with the spreading roller, and manually op-- erable means for moving said bell crank lever to elevate the spreading roller above the inking rollers.

3. In a printing press, a horizontally movable type carrying bed, means for moving the same back and forth in the direction of its length, a rotatable cylinder over said bed, supports, one at each end of the cylinder, an inking mechanism pivotally carried by said supports at one side thereof and at a side of the cylinder, a shaft mounted on said inking mechanism, means for manually turning the shaft, and means on the shaft adapted to engage with the adjacent sides of the supports to thereby swing the inking mechanism away from the supports and to a higher position above the bed.

4. In a printing press, a horizontally positioned longitudinally movable bed, spaced supports extending upwardly, one at each side of the bed, an inking mechanism pivotally suspended at its upper ends at one side of and carried by the supports, said inking mechanism including spaced apart downwardly extending brackets terminating in substantially horizontally positioned members, horizontal inking rollers extending between and located above said members, means for mounting said inking rollers at their ends on said members, a shaft extending through said brackets, a handle for manually turningtheshaft, and means on the handle and shaft for engaging said supports to thereby move the inking mechanism bodily away from the supports and in an upward direction.

5. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 4 combining with a spreading roller located above, lengthwise of and in frictional engagement with the inking rollers, releasable means connected with said spreading roller and means connected with said handle and shaft to operate said releasablemeans whereby on moving the handle to one position said spreading roller is lifted above and out of engagement with the inking rollers.

6. In a construction of the class described, two spaced apart vertical supports, an inking mechanism including a rock shaft and two spaced apart brackets suspended from said rock shaft carried by said supports, said inking mechanism being located at one side of the supports, bell crank levers connected to the rock shaft, spaced horizontally positioned inking rollers carried by and between the brackets, a spreading roller located above and adapted to have frictional engagement with the inking rollers, means for mounting the spreading roller on said brackets whereby it may have an independent vertical movement, means for connecting one arm of each bell crank lever with the spreading roller, a shaft extending between said brackets, a handle for turning the shaft and means on the handle and shaft for simultaneously engaging with the supports and with the other arms of the bell crank levers whereby the inking mechanism is moved away from the supports and swung upwardly a limited distance and the spreading roller is lifted above the inking rollers.

'7. An inking mechanism for printing presses including fixed supporting brackets adapted to be attached to the frame of a printing press, other brackets pivotally suspended from said fixed sup porting brackets, inking rollers carried. by and between said other brackets, a spreading roller located above the inking rollers and between the same, a lever pivotally connected to the said other brackets, means for detachably connecting the lever with the spreading roller, and manually operable means for moving said lever to elevate the spreading roller'above the inking roller.

8. In a printing press, a horizontally positioned longitudinally movable bed, spaced supports extending upwardly, one at each side of the press, an inking mechanism pivotally suspended at its upper end at one side of and carried by the supports, said inking mechanism including spaced apart pivoted downwardly extending brackets, horizontal inking rollers extending between and mounted at their ends on said brackets, a handle pivotally mounted'on one of said brackets, and means at the handle for engaging said supports to thereby move the inking mechanism bodily away from the support and in an upward direction.

9. In a construction containing the, elements in combination defined in claim 8, combined with a spreading roller located above, lengthwise of and in frictional engagement with the inking roller, releasable means connected between said spreading roller and said. handle whereby on moving the handle to one position, said spreading roller is lifted above and out of engagement with the inking rollers.

10. In a construction of the class described, two spaced apart vertical supports, an inking mechanism including, two spaced apart brackets pivotally suspended from said vertical supports, said inking mechanism being located at one side of the supports, a lever pivotally connected to one of the brackets, spaced horizontally positioned inking rollers carried by and between the brackets, a spreading roller located above and adapted to have frictional engagement with the inking rollers, means for mounting the spreading roller on said brackets whereby it may have an independent vertical movement, means for connecting an arm of the lever with the spreading roller, a handle pivotally connected to one'of the brackets, and means on the handle for simultaneously engaging with the supports and with said lever whereby the inking mechanism is moved away from the support and swung upwardly a limited distance and the spreading roller lifted above the inking roller.

JAMES EDGAR LEE. FREEMAN v BARNEY; 

